Social Security Administration Visit

Beware of These 3 Social Security Administration Scams: How They Work

(with video below) It is known that all Americans are required to have a social security card and number to identify themselves for government benefits and various other reasons. This number is very important so once compromised it makes very difficult the process of clearing your good name. This scam works on the assumption that people are intimidated by the importance of the Social Security Administration (SSA) and takes advantage of that commonly shared attitude.

How does it work? There are three variations of the scam: SSA Employee, SSA Visit and SSA Stimulus. Let's look at the first one.

Watch the video below to see how the Social Security Administration Employee Scam works (the example given is in the state of Indiana, but it could happen in yours, too):

In the first scenario, you receive a phone call from someone identifying himself as an employee of the SSA. Prior to the call, the scammer does a bit of a homework about you by looking at your social media profiles, where he could find personal information that can use in the conversation, so it seems legit.

Once you answer the phone, the caller informs you are being investigated for fraud using official verbiage and info found online. Then proceeds to ask for more personal info and financial details, which leads to identity theft and credit card charges. Many people fall for the scam because they share a lot of personal information on their social media platforms.

In the second scam, the caller also claims to be working for the SSA. He advises you that one of the SSA reps will be conducting a home visit and will need to ask some preliminary questions before the scheduled appointment. They then ask to "verify" your social security number and other account numbers such as banking information. Many people don't fall for this, but a significant number of victims still does. Scammers make up to 100 calls per day.

Of course, there is no home visit from the SSA and the victims have just compromised their personal identifying information leaving themselves vulnerable to identity theft and the ruination of their good credit.

The third variation of the scam is the SSA Stimulus approach. Watch the video below to see it exposed:

Social Security Administration Scam: How To Avoid

Be aware that the SSA never schedules home visits and does not call citizens at home. They only operate out of their offices and via snail mail. If you receive a call such as this you should contact the authorities and advise them of the call and what was said.

Telephone scams are as old as the telephone itself; be wary of ever giving too much personal information to anyone over the phone.

Social Security Administration Scam: How To Report

Make your family and friends aware of the Social Security Administration Scam by sharing it on social media using the buttons provided. You can also officially report the scammers to the Federal Trade Commission using the link below:

If you want to be the first to find out the most notorious scams every week, feel free to subscribe to the Scam Detector newsletter here. You'll receive periodical emails and we promise not to spam. Last but not least, use the Comments section below to expose other scammers.

Add Your Comment

Posted By: Miriam Holmes

I am getting calls from 216-777-4560. They will act as though they want information so you can get diabetic home supplies. They get your insurance information to see if you qualify. When you call them back they don’t answer, or it will say no ones available at this time.Be careful and don’t fall for it.

19th, September 2018

Posted By: Barbara hurley

I am getting calls from 430 775 7201 stating my social security number is being used fraudulently and they want me to call them. I feel this is a scam??

18th, September 2018

Posted By: jeanne harris

My sister in law was visited by a man named Mark from Louisville Ky and said he was from the social security administration taking survey and checking up on her. he was nice but took a lot of information. Wondering if this is a scam.. concerned her name is Edith Massengill and she lives in Paducah Ky.

16th, August 2017

Posted By: Suzy T

My 91 yrs old mother received a call yesterday from someone purporting to be from the SSA and indicating that they had to schedule an appointment. She hung up on them. She has very poor short term memory and vision, so she wouldn't be able to give any information anyway - but she knew enough that it was a scam. This is in SE Wisconsin.

16th, January 2015

Posted By: sandra jump

Yesterday got a phone call from IRS, wasnt home, called an d was told nobody from the IRS called.

19th, September 2014

Posted By: jsmall

I was getting call from India wome but when don,t ask they cange to a India man who said a lawyer has benn fined again your social security number 206 area code

20th, June 2014

Posted By: Elaine Stedman

I have a letter supposedly from the Social Security Administration Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance, Medford OR, dated 1/3/14. The envelope says "to be opened by addressee only" and "urgent". The letter says "BrianGoode will be calling you at the phone number shown in our records, 541-770-2461 to conduct a brief review on 1/15/2014 at 12:00 PM. We must determine if you are receiving the proper amount o benefits. If this day or time is not convenient for you, please call us at the phone number shown below. If necessary, we will be glad to schedule an appointment at a more convenient time for you." Etc.

Week May 23-29, 2019

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